Commercial, Securities and Employment Litigation

TPG, one of the world’s largest private equity funds, in a series of cases relating to a €1.5 billion recapitalization of a Greek telecom company. These cases allege that the recapitalization was a fraudulent conveyance under New York, UK and Luxembourg law, with alleged damages in excess of $1 billion, and involve issues of first impression, including the applicability of certain UK statutes outside of the UK. We are lead counsel for TPG in cases pending in state, federal and bankruptcy court in the United States, and are directing the defense for TPG in related cases pending in the High Court of London and in the Commercial Court of Luxembourg. We have obtained dismissals of a number of the cases and sanctions against certain of the plaintiffs.

Saw Mill Capital in defense of claim against private equity fund for carried interest and bonus compensation. In a significant victory, the court denied a former employee’s breach of contract claims. The employee claimed he was entitled to recover significant carried interest and bonus compensation. The court sided with Kasowitz and Saw Mill, denying the former employee any additional compensation.

Mutual fund managers and operations personnel from Alliance Capital in investigations by the SEC and the New York Attorney General’s Office into the alleged market timing and late trading in those funds.

Caxton Associates and Caxton Health Holdings in obtaining summary judgment dismissing an action brought by the former CEO of CHH in which he claimed an ongoing interest in CHH’s net profits along with a 10% equity stake in the company, following his termination of employment, based on alleged oral agreements and various tort and quasi-contract theories.

Fortress Investment Group in an action relating to the issuance of a legal opinion letter by the law firm Dechert in connection with a sham transaction put together by disbarred attorney Marc S. Dreier.

TPG in a case seeking injunctive relief against Adam Levine, former Deputy Press Secretary for former-President George W. Bush, in connection with his alleged breach of a confidentiality agreement with TPG. S. District Judge John H. McBryde granted an agreed-upon permanent injunction against Levine to resolve TPG’s lawsuit against him in Texas federal court. The injunction permanently enjoined and restrained Levine from possessing, disclosing, using, or exploiting TPG’s confidential information. In a related matter, Kasowitz represented TPG against allegations from Levine, including whistleblower claims, brought in San Francisco federal court. Kasowitz attorneys conducted an internal investigation into these allegations, resulting in Levine’s withdrawal of all claims without any payment from TPG. The firm also represented TPG in related regulatory matters.

Apollo Management’s Hexion Specialty Chemicals in its action against Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank seeking specific performance of the banks’ $15 billion commitment to finance Hexion’s acquisition of Huntsman Chemical. After expedited discovery, Kasowitz successfully negotiated a settlement with Huntsman, bringing an end to one of the largest-ever battles over a leveraged buyout. Major media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, lauded the settlement negotiated by Kasowitz as a “sweet deal” for Apollo and Hexion.

Five Mile Capital, a mezzanine lender in a multi-tiered securitization used to finance the purchase of the former New York Times headquarters, in a suit seeking to enjoin mortgage lenders from colluding with the borrower to extinguish the rights of junior debtholders, such as FMC, by manufacturing a non-material, technical default to simplify the building’s capital structure. The firm helped FMC to successfully obtain a settlement whereby FMC assumed a 50% ownership stake in the former New York Times building.

RPAP, a joint venture between Atlas Capital Group, The Procaccianti Group and Rockpoint Group, in actions in New York state court to foreclose on more than $300 million of loans secured by the Alex Hotel and Flatotel, both located in New York City, and to recover on the personal guaranties with respect to the loans. Kasowitz successfully obtained orders appointing a receiver for both hotels and replacing the hotel operator, and won summary judgment in all four actions, as well as dismissal of all of the defendants’ counterclaims and affirmative defenses.

Fortress Investment Group in an action brought by Leslie Dick Worldwide and Leslie Dick, which sought over one billion dollars in damages for alleged RICO and antitrust conspiracies, concerning the sale of the General Motors Building in New York City and the Conseco bankruptcy. Kasowitz successfully obtained the dismissal of the claims against Fortress.

Murray Capital Management in its securities fraud action against Exide Technologies, asserting Section 10(b) and 20(a) claims relating to Exide’s securities offering. After the court dismissed the initial complaint prepared by another law firm, Kasowitz was retained to prepare an amended complaint, and we successfully defeated Exide’s motion to dismiss that amended complaint, resulting in a confidential settlement.

Bankruptcy Litigation and Restructuring

TPG and its senior partners in bankruptcy proceedings and multiple state and federal court actions concerning TPG portfolio company Caesars Entertainment, the fourth largest gaming company in the world.

Real Estate Transactions

The Blackstone Group, the largest private equity firm in the world, in the $680 million acquisition of the SkyView Center in Queens, New York. Kasowitz is handling the development and easement agreements between Blackstone, as the purchaser and owner of the retail, office and parking condominium units of the mall, and the developer of three towers of 800 luxury residential condominium units being built on top of the mall. This transaction is Blackstone’s largest retail acquisition in its history.

Sidney Fetner Associates, a company owned by renowned real estate developer Hal Fetner, in the joint venturing with Rockpoint Group, a real estate and private equity firm, to buy out the Durst Organization’s interest in the ownership of the 400-unit luxury residential property located at 125 West 31st Street in Manhattan, known as “The Epic.” The transaction included a 1031 tax-free exchange that was accomplished through a complex mezzanine loan structure, pursuant to which Rockpoint’s mezzanine loan was converted to equity.

Lyn R. Agre

Andrew K. Glenn

Media

Kasowitz represented TPG, one of the largest private equity firms in the world, in a Texas action seeking injunctive relief against Adam Levine, former Deputy Press Secretary for George W. Bush, in connection with his breach of a confidentiality agreement.